Scene summaries

Act 1

The founding of the Riot Club

The film The Riot Club (2014) directed by Lone Scherfig starts with an event from the past that shows the circumstances of Lord Riot’s death. Lord Riot was a pleasure-seeker who was killed by a man who caught him sleeping with his wife. That night, the Lord’s friends hold a memorial dinner for him and vow to make the Riot Club famous across generations, in their friend’s memory.

Miles and Alistair change rooms

Miles Richards and Alistair Ryle begin their first year at Oxford University. Alistair’s parents feel that his assigned room is not up to the family’s standards, so Miles offers to switch rooms. When he arrives at his modest room, Miles is disappointed.

In the dining hall, Miles notices Lauren, a first-year student, who is in a heated conversation with Alistair. The two become attracted to each other and meet on the rooftop of their building, where they talk about their families. Lauren comes from a working-class background, while Miles’ family has an Oxford legacy. They agree not to pursue a relationship, as they do not want to avoid each other for the next three years if it does not work out. 

At the pub

Eight of the Riot Club members meet at the pub that night to drink. Miles and Lauren are also there and notice each other in the crowd. James Leighton-Masters, the president of the club, tells the others that he is trying to find a place for their annual dinner, but having been banned from most of the establishments in the city makes it a difficult task. The club members talk about recruiting two new members, as they need ten to maintain the Riot Club roster. Hugo, an older student, suggests they should choose young men of quality, and the others mock him because he is gay.

Alistair meets The Riot Club

That night, Alistair goes to an ATM, where he is robbed and hurt by two muggers. Harry Villiers, a Riot Club member notices him. He realizes he knows Alistair’s older brother, Sebastian. Some of the other Riot Club members arrive in a car and tell Alistair that his brother was the best Riot Club president they had. They offer Alistair a ride and they sing and drink until mor...